CARRBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

'Carrboro' is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 16,782 at the 2000 census, with a 2006 estimated population of 16,577.^[1]

Contents

History

Carrboro today

Government and politics

Geography

Demographics

Sister cities

Notes

External links

History

Known originally as 'West End' because of its location west of Chapel Hill, Carrboro was settled in 1882 around a spur of the Durham-Greensboro Southern Railway. The railroad stop was located about a mile west of the University of North Carolina (UNC) campus in order not to disturb the local population and to make it more difficult for students to leave campus by train.
Settlement in West End increased after Thomas F. Lloyd of Chapel Hill built the Alberta Cotton Mill next to the railroad depot in 1898. Julian Shakespeare Carr bought this and other nearby buildings in 1909, adding them to the network of mills that became the Durham Hosiery Mills. West End was incorporated in 1911 and renamed 'Venable' in honor of chemistry professor and UNC president Francis Preston Venable. Just two years later, the town was renamed Carrboro, after Carr began providing streets and electric power to the community and expanding the mill buildings. The original mill changed hands several times over the succeeding decades. The Carrboro Board of Aldermen intended to have it demolished in 1975 until a community petition and fund-raising effort provided for its restoration as Carr Mill Mall. The railroad depot in Carrboro also served the local lumber industry, and Carrboro became a major hub in the hardwood cross-tie market.
Carrboro was home to the Melba Movie Theatre, built in the 1920s, and located at either 118 or 120 E. Main Street. Patrons viewed movies on cane bottom kitchen chairs. Films were accompanied by live piano music. Citizens also frequented Joe Sparrow's Pool located behind his home off Old Pittsboro Road. The large natural spring public pool was eventually closed because of tensions arising from race and gender segregation.
Some of the most distinctive architectural treasures of Carrboro are its approximately 150 mill houses constructed in the 1910s-30s. Many of these homes have been restored, yet numerous ones sadly have been razed. The homes were originally built by Lloyd and Carr for their workers and their families.
Carrboro's nickname, "The Paris of the Piedmont," comes from a humorous, sarcastic comment by John Martin, a reporter for the now-defunct Chapel Hill Weekly. In 1970, Nyle Frank, now a musician but then a graduate student in political science at the nearby University of North Carolina, organized an alternative "Invisible University," and announced plans to have himself crowned as the institution's new "King" in Carrboro. Martin commented, "I can see it now -- The Paris of the Piedmont."[2]
Additionally, Carrboro is known (both affectionately and with disdain depending on one's political views) as "The People's Republic of Carrboro" (http://www.ibiblio.org/hhalpin/activism.html).

Carrboro today

Located near Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina, Carrboro has a reputation as one of the most liberal communities in the Southern United States. It was the first municipality in North Carolina to elect an openly gay mayor, Mike Nelson, in 1995 and the first municipality in the state to grant domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples. In October 2002, Carrboro was among the first municipalities in the South to pass resolutions opposing the Iraq War and the USA PATRIOT Act.

One of Carrboro's attractions is the Carrboro Farmer's Market, which features local organic produce, locally produced cheeses, baked goods, and handmade crafts. Created in 1977, the Carrboro Farmers' Market was one of the earliest to link farmers directly with their customers. The Carrboro Farmers' Market requires that everything sold must be grown or produced within a fifty-mile radius of Carrboro.
In the early 1990s, a sizable influx of Latino immigrants began moving to Carrboro, attracted by jobs in the building and service trades. As these immigrants settled in Carrboro, they brought the foods and cultures of their native countries to the town. Carrboro is now home to three Latino ''tiendas'' (grocery stores). Other businesses, including national grocery chains, adapted to the change in demographics by stocking a wider variety of Central and South American food products.

Carrboro has a thriving arts scene. The town is known for the Carrboro Music Festival, an all-day event which celebrates local music with performances throughout the downtown area. The music festival began in 1998 as the Fête de la Musique, and was held on the summer solstice. In 2002, the name of the event was changed to the Carrboro Music Festival. In order to increase attendance, the event was moved to the fall, avoiding the summer heat. Carrboro is also home to the two-day annual Carrboro International Poetry Festival created by former Carrboro Poet Laureate Patrick Herron.
Carrboro is home to two music venues that host national and regional acts. The Carrboro ArtsCenter hosts nationally known roots music acts, such as David Lindley, Leon Russell, and Dr. John. The ArtsCenter also holds art classes, dance classes, and art exhibitions. Not far away, The Cat's Cradle typically hosts more rock acts than the ArtsCenter, but a number of musicians have played both venues.
Carrboro is also home to two branches of the Orange County Public Library System: the Carrboro Branch Library and the Carrboro Cybrary. Carrboro Branch Library is located in McDougle Elementary and Middle Schools at 900 Old Fayetteville Road. Services include a medium sized circulating collection of books, audiobooks, movies on DVD and VHS, and music CDs; computer and Internet access; magazines; and local and national newspapers. Carrboro Cybrary is located in the Century Center in the heart of downtown Carrboro at 100 N. Greensboro Street. Services include a small circulating collection of contemporary fiction, nonfiction, audiobooks, and Spanish and English language learning materials; computer, Internet, and wireless access; magazines; and local and national newspapers. Orange County residents may access these services free of charge, and non-residents may access the computers free of charge.
In June 2004 WCOM began broadcasting at 103.5 FM in Carrboro. WCOM is a low-power FM station featuring music, community affairs, and Spanish-language programming. The station is volunteer-run and all shows feature local radio talent.
High school students living in Carrboro go to either Chapel Hill High School or the new Carrboro High School.

Government and politics

Carrboro uses a council-manager form of government. The community elects a mayor and 6 aldermen to a Board of Aldermen. Mayors serve 2-year terms, and aldermen serve staggered 4-year terms.
''See also: List of mayors of Carrboro, North Carolina and List of aldermen of Carrboro, North Carolina.''

Geography

Carrboro is located at (35.920422, -79.083933).
According to the US Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.60 km² (4.48 mi²), of which 11.58 km² (4.47 mi²) is land and 0.03 km² (0.01 mi²) is water.
On January 31, 2006, the total area of the town increased by approximately 1.30 km² (0.50 mi²) to a total area of approximately 12.90 km² (4.98 mi²).^[2]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,782 people, 7,570 households, and 3,126 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,449.6/km² (3,753.7/mi²). There were 8,207 housing units at an average density of 708.9/km² (1,835.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.67% White, 13.54% African American, 0.36% Native American, 5.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 5.85% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.29% of the population.
There were 7,570 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 58.7% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 21.4% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 14.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,527, and the median income for a family was $47,330. Males had a median income of $30,099 versus $31,090 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,429. About 11.0% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over. As with neighboring Chapel Hill, affordable housing has become a pressing local issue.

Sister cities

★ Juventino Rosas, Mexico

★ San Jorge, Nicaragua

★ Saratov, Russia

Notes

1. [1] U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed July 15, 2007.
2. [3] Town of Carrboro, NC. Service Report for Northeast Annexation Areas "A" & "B." Accessed July 15, 2007.

External links

★ Town of Carrboro official Web site

★ Carrboro.com

★ Carrboro's History

★ Carrboro Community Resource and Visitors Guide

★ Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

★ Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce

★ Carrboro Farmers Market

★ Carrboro Music Festival

★ Carrboro Poetry Festival

★ OrangePolitics.org Multi-author blog about progressive politics in Orange County

★ Squeeze the Pulp Internet forum on politics, news, and community in Orange County

★ WCOM Radio WCOM 103.5 FM, Carrboro Community Radio

★ Birds of Carrboro